Description
💧 Watering
Like its cousin Mesembryanthemum, it is exceptionally drought-tolerant. It stores water efficiently in its plump, fleshy leaves. Water thoroughly only when the soil is completely dry. During Malta’s damp winters, natural rainfall is more than enough. Overwatering or planting it in waterlogged soil is the fastest way to kill it, as its shallow roots will rot rapidly.
☀️ Light
It is an absolute sun worshiper. It requires full, direct sunlight to thrive and maintain its tight, compact growth habit. A fascinating feature to note for your customers: the brilliant purple flowers will only open when the sun is hitting them directly, closing up tightly at night or on rare overcast days.
🍃 Foliage / Growth
Features cylindrical, light green leaves covered in tiny, glistening translucent papillae (cells that look like glistening ice crystals or small dew-like hairs, giving it the name hispidum, meaning “hairy”). It has a low, trailing habit with prostrate stems that easily root wherever they touch the ground, making it superb for cascading over Maltese rubble walls (ħitan tas-sejjieħ) or spilling beautifully over the edges of hanging baskets.
🪴 Potting Mix
It thrives in poor, sandy, gravelly, or sharply draining soil. Avoid rich organic compost, which causes weak, leggy growth and fewer flowers. For potted displays, a dedicated cactus and succulent mix or a standard potting soil heavily cut with plenty of coarse sand, perlite, or limestone grit is ideal.
🌿 Fertilizer
Virtually none required. A single, very weak application of a balanced liquid fertilizer at the beginning of spring can help kickstart its blooming season, but it is entirely optional. Over-feeding will destroy its compact form.
🐕🐈 Pet Safety**
Drosanthemum hispidum is non-toxic to dogs and cats, making it a completely safe, stress-free option for low-lying borders, rockeries, or ground-level garden areas where pets love to play.
🌬️ Air Purifying
While it doesn’t clean indoor air, its outdoor environmental value is excellent. It is a highly effective plant for soil erosion control on sloped, dry terrain. Furthermore, its massive carpets of vivid summer blooms are highly attractive to local bees and pollinators, providing them with an abundant foraging ground.
*Pictures shown may vary from actual product due to the live nature of the items. Some items may be out of stock for various reasons, we will issue a refund or offer alternatives should that be the case.
The Price is per one individual plant.
**This plant is labeled as non-toxic to cats and dogs by the ASPCA. However, be advised that the consumption of any plant material may cause vomiting and gastrointestinal upset for dogs and cats. Sherries will not be held accountable to any symptom. If you believe that your animal is ill or may have ingested a poisonous substance, please contact a vet immediately.
